Pastor’s Manna

A Great Start!

 I really appreciate the start of the new year. It is a time to reflect upon our past, and to appreciate the opportunities to make changes in the upcoming year. When we start a new year, anything is possible. Our resolutions are fresh and still intact, our promises haven’t been broken, everything is fresh and new again.

This always makes me think of the salvation and grace we have in Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, our past is behind us and we only have possibilities ahead. Through Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven whenever we confess them. What an incredible freedom!

We no longer are bound by decisions we regret, mistakes we made, rash actions, bad calls, lost tempers, angry responses, or even choices we would make differently now.

We start with a blank slate through Jesus Christ, no matter what time of the year it is. This doesn’t occur because of our planetary orbit, moon positions, tidal charts, time of day, or any other natural event; it occurs because Jesus died for us, and lived again conquering sin and death once and for all. This blank slate occurs because of our relationship with Jesus Christ!

Many people make resolutions for things they might change in the next year:

                                      -weight loss                                   -exercise

                                      -the cessation of bad habits      -establishing new life patterns

All of these are very good resolutions and changes to make in your life, but have you considered the most important change you can make, a closer walk with Jesus Christ?

For years I have stressed the importance of knowing our faith: knowing what you believe, being able to explain just what it is you believe. These are all very important, but they simply allow us to move to the most important stage of our faith. I recently read a wonderful quote on this:

“Faith is not about information, but imitation of Jesus Christ”

This next year, seek a closer walk with Jesus Christ, the one who models the love that God has for the world. The one who came to save you. The one who died for you. Jesus came and gave us a great start, allowing us to start fresh with God, what will you do with this new start?

                                                                                                                                                                     In Him,

Pastor Jon